Five pensioners evacuated from Purley have said their road was used as a "flood plain" after their pleas for help were ignored by authorities.

The group were evacuated by emergency servives on Wednesday afternoon when the ground floor of their block of flats was flooded.

They are now camping out at the Croydon's Holiday Express Inn after its manager agreed to take them in while they sorted out their insurance.

"There are a lot of questions to answer," said James Woodgate, 63. "Why is it, when the Purley Cross pond is just down the road, that no one was pumping water from our road into it?

"We were effectively used as a flood plain. I was outside my flat on Tuesday and Wednesday trying to talk to anyone, people from the Environment Agency, the fire brigade, the council, and tell them what was happening.

"Not one person listened. By the time it was obvious the road was fooding, there was a huge panic and everyone ran around like headless chickens trying to deal with it.

"But by that point it was too late."

June Holmes, 81, said she was "angry" about the way Mr Woodgate had been treated.

"He was out all day trying to get someone to listen. I watched from my window as people just ignored him.

"The thing is, he knows what he's talking about and knew the road would flood because of the Bourne flooding and the drains being blocked by silt and gravel."

However, she said the workers "on the ground" were wonderful and kind to everyone.

"It's the people at the top that need to answer the questions," she said.

"I was shouting 'Help! Help!' at the situation on Tuesday night but it was just too late.

"No one from the council has tried to get in touch with us or offered help. We could be here for weeks. A fireman told me it would be flooded for at least three."

The neighbours are holing up in the hotel along with Nina Jopling, 71, Peter Chadd, 80 and Muriel Stark, 71.

"As you can see, we're all quite old for this," June said. "But we all live in the same block and look after each other."

When it became obvious they would have to evacuate their homes, Mr Woodgate began ringing around for cheap hotels where they could stay.

Luckily, the manager at the Holiday Express Inn, Carlos Gomes, agreed to let them stay even though the evacuees' insurance companies are yet to pay out.

"We organised a budget of £60 a day with our insurance," Mr Woodgate said. "But it hasn't come through yet and the manager has let us stay here and pay later, he's been superb."

Nina Jopling said she was "shocked" and "nervous" about what had happened.

"We are all pensioners and I am a nervous person as it is already," she said.

None of the evacuees have more than a bag's worth of basics with them and only Mr Chadd has ventured back to Dale Road to pick up some essentials.

"It hasn't progressed much there," he said. "It looks like they are just managing with the water that keeps coming in to the road rather than clearing it completely."

A spokesman from the council said that "low-lying parts of Purley and Kenley" were "vulnerable to flooding, particularly those living along the course of the Caterham Bourne".

"Water levels have risen and the ground is saturated and unable to soak up any more."

The spokesman also said the gold command - made up of representatives of the council, Environment Agency, emergency services, neighbouring authorities and local water companies - had made many "difficult" decisions.

"Work has been on-going day and night to try to contain and manage surging water and to protect hundreds more homes from being flooded.

"If this action had not been taken then the situation would have much worse much earlier, and affected many more people.

"We sympathise with everyone who has been evacuated and we are doing all we can to support and help those affected."

Other evacuees, including a care home for vulnerable adults in Dale Road and another care home for the elderly in Foxley Hill Road, were taken to a refuge centre in the council's HQ at Bernard Weatherill House.

6 comments

Firefightes are facing ongoing job cuts and need a crisis to raise their profile. This is why they are purposefully diverting water into residential streets. They get visits from the mayor, from the prime minister, and the media singing their praises, while they stand next to flooded homes looking important. You may have noticed they stopped diverting water into the Tescos underpass on Saturday so they could top-up Dale Road again. Its an "Ace in the Hole" for them.

Fire and council services have been intentionally flooding the Care Home (next to Lister Court and opposite Nicholas Court) in Dale Road. Sandbags protecting the building have been removed, water is gushing into the area and property.
When Fire, Council, and Environmental agency worker asked what is going on and why they are letting the flood water in, staff simply ignore you not willing to talk to you explain anything or keep you informed.

Council and Fire service are now intentionally the care home (next to Lister Court and opposite Nicholas Court) Dale Road flood. They have removed some of the sand bags protecting the building and are allowing water to get through. Fire, Council, and Environmental staff on site have been asked on several occasions what is going on or why they are flooding this building, the services have been unwilling to talk to us or keep us informed. When asked what is going on they just ignore you.

.. and the excessively overpaid on over £100,000 of taxpayers money KENLEY councillor, Croydon Cabinet Member and GLA Member Mr S O'Connell is no where to be seen. Apparently he is preparing for a photo opportunity somewhere dry. Wow what support, what inspiration, what wonders this man doth perform for his constituents. What more reasons do we need NOT to re-elect him come the May elections?